Chapter 12 - The Woman Behind Every LieMara did not raise her weapon.
She didn't need to.
Her calmness was more frightening than anger.
"You've caused me a great deal of trouble," she told Valentina.
Valentina held Ellie tighter.
"You destroyed my family."
Mara smiled.
"No."
She looked at the burning mansion.
"Your family destroyed itself."
Victor appeared behind her.
His face was bruised.
Marcus was on the ground.
Mara continued:
"I simply gave everyone a reason to reveal who they were."
Valentina glanced at Victor.
"Did you work for her?"
Victor said nothing.
Mara answered for him.
"Everyone worked for someone."
She looked toward Clara.
"Your mother protected you."
Toward Marcus.
"Your brother protected himself."
Toward Evelyn.
"Your grandmother protected the bloodline."
Then she looked at Valentina.
"And you protected your innocence."
Valentina felt anger rise.
"What do you want?"
"The trust."
"So this was about money."
"Not exactly."
Mara stepped closer.
"The trust gives legal control over assets that were never supposed to be divided."
She pointed toward Sofia.
"Her existence complicates the inheritance."
Then toward Ellie.
"And her testimony complicates everything else."
Valentina said:
"You're afraid of a six-year-old."
Mara's eyes hardened.
"I'm afraid of what she remembers."
Ellie suddenly spoke.
"You were there."
Mara looked at her.
"Where?"
"Grandpa's office."
Silence.
Ellie continued.
"You told him to hide the red box."
Mara froze.
Valentina noticed.
"What red box?"
Mara's composure cracked for half a second.
The tiniest movement.
Enough.
Valentina turned to Victor.
"Where is it?"
Victor looked at Mara.
Mara shook her head.
"Do not."
Valentina understood.
The red box mattered.
She looked at Ellie.
"Where did you see it?"
Ellie pointed toward Marcus.
"In Uncle Marcus's room."
Marcus stared.
"I never had a red box."
Ellie shook her head.
"Not in the room."
She touched her temple.
"Under the bed."
Marcus looked confused.
"There is no compartment."
Ellie whispered:
"Behind the blue board."
Marcus's face changed.
There was a hidden compartment.
Mara stepped forward.
"Enough."
Valentina moved back.
"Now I know what we're looking for."
Mara's voice became cold.
"You have no idea what that box contains."
"Then let me find out."
Mara lifted her weapon.
Before she could aim, Clara threw herself between them.
A shot rang out.
Clara fell.
"Mom!"
Valentina caught her.
Sofia screamed.
Mara backed away.
"Find the box."
Her men rushed toward Marcus.
He fought back.
Valentina pulled Clara into her arms.
Blood stained her sleeve.
Clara whispered:
"Don't let them..."
Valentina bent close.
"Don't let them what?"
Clara's eyes filled.
"...find the account."
"What account?"
"The account isn't in the trust."
She coughed.
"It's under the hospital."
Valentina stared.
"What hospital?"
"St. Martha."
Then Clara grabbed Valentina's wrist.
"The twins weren't the only children."
Valentina froze.
Clara whispered:
"There were seven."
Her eyes closed.
Valentina looked at Sofia.
Sofia looked horrified.
Mara shouted:
"Take the girls!"
Valentina stood.
Something inside her had changed.
She had entered the mansion thinking she was rescuing her daughter.
Now she knew Ellie and Sofia were only two pieces of a much larger secret.
Seven children.
One hospital.
One hidden account.
And a woman named Mara who had spent decades making sure no one asked questions.
Valentina grabbed Marcus.
"Can you get us to St. Martha?"
Marcus nodded.
"But the hospital closed years ago."
May you like
Valentina looked at Ellie.
"Then we'll open it again."
